Leigh

This is probably the wrong bbs to say this on, but after 18 months I'm bored with my scoob. I've been thinking of getting an R33 skyline GTR, but after visiting an import dealer today I noticed that for similar cash I could have an R34 skyline GTS on a 'v' plate.
Does anyone know anything about these? I know it's a 2.5 single turbo, and that it's rear wheel drive, and 280ps, but thats about it. Does anyone know if they are any good? The importer really rates it, and says it will be as quick as my WRX, but then he would, 'cos he's trying to sell it!
Is is worth going back for a test drive?
It did look the part though...

Cheers

Leigh

CraigH

Don't think a GTS is close to a GTR.

A 280hp GTS will not be as quick as your WRX.

A GTR will eat it for breakfast.

Think UK/Sti - same thing. Both good, but......

harj

A GTS Skyline is a great car on the straights, so easy to modify too just like the GTR. But when you drive along your favourire A Road you will begin writing your Will as you drive along, Ive heard of GTS's going on upto 600BHP+ with some decent mods. Personally I would reccomend a GTR33 for 20K as the value of these cars is now stable and won't be diminishing as much as the Scooby has.

GTR 33 either V Spec or not is more fun than any GTS and the car will give you so much more confidence than a WRX as its so big and difficult to get sideways easily.

EIL132

The R34gts is a hell of a car.Saw pictures of it beating a Honda NSX.Have to say it's better than a Scooby.

matt_d

The GTR34 is only slightly faster than a P1 or STi in a straight line, but it can't carry as much speed through bends because of its greater bulk. It is set up very stiffly and it tramlines a lot, it has lots of grip but can snap into oversteer without warning, so you can't push it with confidence as much as a scoob. The 4wd is not permanent, and it has 4 wheel steering too, which combine to give a very strange feel when it loses grip, so it is trickier on the limit than a scooby. As a real world road car it is not really much faster from A to B than a Subaru with the PPP, and in the wet it would be slower (except on high speed sweeping roads). It is also less practical. On the plus side, the Skyline has superb steering and brakes. The car can easily take a lot more power, and I think it would be best as a 500bhp+ track monster. It also has a great street presence. It is basically an over the top car - great fun, something different, but ultimately flawed IMO.

bb

The R34 GTS has a semi-auto gearbox if I am not mistaken? (HK and Jap. spec anyway)I think that would affect performance a bit. Try putting the GTR and GTS side by side, you will notice a BIG difference between the two in looks and specs - recaro's etc.( I think they are one of the best I've ever used) The R33 GTR is a much bulkier car though. I'd choose the GTR without even thinking.

matt_d

The seats are incredible - easily the best I've sat in and that includes those £500 Phillipe Starck numbers Now, perhaps we can get back to cars...

jeremy

Matt,

Have you had experience with the Skyline or were you quoting Evo's past articles? Either way, all the people I've spoke with who drive them hard say the same things as you have.

Do you also share Evo's views concerning the Evo6?

Thanks, JL

matt_d

Yes I've driven a GTR34 for about 8 months. I bought it before I started reading Evo (they gave it a slagging in 1999 Car of the Year). I think they were a bit harsh but the general thrust of what they said was right. I recently bought a scoob P1 and am about to sell the Skyline, main reasons being economics and practicality, plus I thought the P1 was a better drivers car after test driving it (I originally had a deposit on a P1 but it took so long to get delivered I gave up). I've had a lot of fun with the Skyline - on the right road it is great, it is very quick and corners very fast indeed in the dry, and it's fun watching people stare at your car whilst ignoring 911s or Ferraris It looks better than the scoob, has a better interior, better steering & brakes, but you just can't press on as much on dodgy roads or in wet conditions. I once took it up around the highlands on the A82 and other roads, and it was fantastic; I had a great race with a 911 in Wales too, but I've also had it on the back roads in Lincolnshire (like the B660) in the pouring rain and sometimes I've been unable to shake Cossies or even hot hatches because I am worried it will swap ends if I use the full performance. I'm sure a better driver than me could push it more, but for me it was a fair weather friend. Like a summer fling it was fun while it lasted, but now I want to go for a longer-term relationship hence the scoob, and with resale values like they are, it looks like I'm locked in like it or not!

P.S. Anyone interested in a used GTR34, feel free to post a reply!

matt_d

Forgot about the Evo6 - I haven't driven one so can't comment. But I do agree with Evo mag generally that a hard ride makes a car less driveable at speed on bumpier roads - at least it does for me.

ARRON BIRD

If you want an unbiased and propper opinion mail me.......believe me I know and ignore Harj cos hes a **** :

kryten

I test drove an R reg Skyline a couple of months back to compare to my RB5 PPP. It was, ultimately quicker, but only really started getting going above 4000 RPM.

This meant to overtake when behind something doing 40-50 mph you needed to get down to second gear which I didn't like as the third to second change down cost time...

I drove the same route in the RB5 afterwards and found it easier to overtake and more fun to drive though I could go quicker in the Skyline: but as this meant doing well over 3 figures its not of great importance

It was also VERY easy to get the back end out both on slow right angle bends (fun) and on faster sweeping bends (not so fun!) - the roads were DRY at the time too!

I'd agree with the seats being excellent and the interior is better than the scooby (but then the car cost 50 grand new...) Also the boot is tiny - after the amps/subs went in nothing else would fit!

Major downers were the minimum cost of a service being 400quid and the fact that a 1 year warranty was 2 GRAND!

Leigh

Thanks for the replies!
I'm also after info on running costs, ie. insurance, servicing, mpg especially (it would be my daily driver) I'm told it would be similar to my wrx costs wise?
The car in question is a V reg, standard except for an exhaust, and the price is £21995. (inc 12mths warranty) Is this steep?
I suspect it will depreciate more than an older GTR? The dealer says I'm looking at 22k for an 'M' reg GTR, and he's getting one in shortly. (The dealer is Charlesworths BTW)
Any info gratefully received.

Cheers

Rikki23

Leigh

My friend has an R33 GTR (I think) and I will give you his email address and phone number tomorrow. He owns Amber Performance, who specialise in Ford and Jap parts.

Rikki

jwhitton

Abbey Motorsport in London or Middlehurst in Liverpool will all tell you about owning a Skyline.

Come to one of the Group B car club events and see how quick they really are on a track.

Steve Riches had is purple R33 at the RSOC event this year in the expert group.

jon

Squizz

Isn't a GTS Rear Wheel Drive...?

Bajie

GTS is rear wheel drive and 280bhp but the Skyline GTR V-Spec is four wheel drive but rear wheel biased.
It is set up for the rear end to come out so sometimes people get caught out. Very stiff for our roads too.
I would have found out more if I actually managed to test drive one on the day I drove to Middlehurst but was kept waiting for too long a time for a test drive. 600 mile round trip. Cheers then
Getting your Skyline chipped up to 500bhp at Middlehurst will cost in excess of 12k.

MRK

Leigh

For Sale
i have a Skyline R33 V-Spec 10,000miles Feb '99 on the S. Gloss Black, Xenon headlights, all the usaul extra's.

Wicked car, will blow even the P1 away. As for the back coming around, never found that out shes so solid on the road, especially as the cars computers, 4wheels steering, four wheel drive is just amazing. You have incredible feel through the steering and seat, you actually become part of it, more than a Scooby, and it doesn't understeer!! My MYOO still understeers even with the Prodrive Settings.
The only downside is it's size along B roads, and the very hard suspension, but solid build. You get used to it, its no worse than my old 205GTi lowered to the floor (they were the days :-) ).

If your interesed give send me an E-mail.

Mark

AMBER-PERFORMANCE

If the back didn't come round on the Skyline then its not powerful enough. This car is absolutely awesome on the open road and the computers techno trickery makes an average driver(probably me) seem like he knows what he's doing. Run a Cosworth RS500 with (currently) 480BHP also and the two cars are obviously different animals but with the power potential from both these models that is why we don't have a scooby despite them being awesome cars

regards

jsaon / james
01528 572500